Sidmouth Choral Society meets for the first time after the summer break on Tuesday, September 6, and would love to see some new faces.

Some of its current members had no previous experience of singing and some do not read music, but these have not been barriers to some great performances. There are around 60 members of the Society, which was founded 160 years ago, who rehearse for two concerts each year - one in December and the other in Spring. Recently they have sung works by older composers such as Vivaldi and Mozart, through Brahms and Fauré, to the very much alive Karl Jenkins and John Rutter.

This autumn, members will be rehearsing for the December concert (Saturday, December 17, at Sidmouth Methodist Church). The programme includes Haydn’s Nelson Mass and a couple of eight-part songs by Mendelssohn as well as new and familiar carols. They will also be working on several pieces for the Big Sing (Saturday, November 12, at Sidmouth Parish Church), where they will be one of five local choirs taking part.

The society’s musical director Dorothy Worthington is endlessly encouraging and good-humoured and makes sure there is time during each rehearsal for members to chat. And it is a fact that singing is good for you, both physically (improved breathing and voice control) and emotionally (being part of a big group making a big and beautiful sound together). New singers are welcome to attend three or four rehearsals before deciding whether or not to join. Annual membership is £50 and may be paid in two instalments.

Rehearsals are held in St Francis’ Hall, Woolbrook, every Tuesday evening at 7.30pm and last around two hours.